Bodkin / Patterns

Kwan Bead Chain

Crab · Redfish · Permit · Bonefish · Snook · Intermediate · 1 version

Reference Recipe

  • Hook Saltwater flats hook, 2-6
  • Thread Chartreuse or tan Flat waxed nylon

Materials

  • Bead chain eyes Silver bead chain eyes medium (1 pair, medium)
  • Craft fur Tan or chartreuse craft fur (tail)
  • Krystal Flash Pearl flashabou (few strands)
  • Crystal chenille Hot orange crystal chenille (short butt)
  • Rug / craft yarn Tan and cream rug craft yarn (body)

How to tie it

  1. Start thread near the eye and bind medium bead-chain eyes on top of the shank a short way back from the eye; figure-8 and lock.
  2. Run thread to the bend. Tie in a craft-fur tail about one-and-a-half shanks long and bar it with a brown permanent marker; add a few strands of pearl Krystal Flash.
  3. At the tail base tie in and wind a short butt of hot-orange crystal chenille as a hotspot.
  4. Cut short lengths of tan and cream rug yarn, lay them across the shank, and secure with figure-8 (criss-cross) wraps, building the body up to the eyes. The crossways yarn gives the flat, crustacean profile.
  5. Figure-8 more yarn around and in front of the bead-chain eyes to fill the head.
  6. Whip finish at the eye, then trim the yarn body flat top and bottom into a rounded shrimp/crab shape and comb it out.

Tying videos

← All fly patterns